The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-16
REUNITED.
A Federal and an EX- Confederate
General Speak From the
Same Platform.
General Averlll's Renaissance OF
Lincoln before Fredericksburg.
Gov. Lees Sentiments.

STAUNToN, Va, Jnne lO.-The largest crowd ever
in stanton assembled to-day To witness the cele-
bration OF the Confederate Memorial association
The chief attraction was the presence OF zen w
". Averill, # New York, orator Of the occasion.
The column was mile long, consisting OF military
and civil organizations After the parade, speak
Ing took place in the Opera house, which was
crowded To sutf0Cat0n.
introducing Averill, Gov Lee referred to their
long acquaintance, beginning when both were boys
at West Point, and to their subsequent association
met face TO face in battle dur
ing the war that followed, and he was prepared
20 testify that no Drawer men cOntended on either
eide than the troops commanded by that gallant
officer, whose wa fore was upon man, and not
upon helpless women and children In closing,
the governor referred to the 0biiteration of the
sectional line end a reunion of the people, as
shown by the presence ola federal general join
in, with southern veterans in hun0Iing the Con
tedera'e dead.
General Av.ri | was greeted with ringing ap.
plause as he stepped forward, ard from time 10
line during his speech, he was enthusiastically
cheered.
Among. other things, General Aveill sai :
"Where once outpOss nd Fickets were set to
guard nv cDmmaud sgainst brave and persistent
enem,, | now stand alone, a welcome guest. |
thank God and you for the changed condition. |
have experienced every vicissituds of war-inClud-
ing being killed, for have been ha killed twice
but of all the triumphs | have ever enjoyed, this
victory of peace to-day is the graudest ana most
satisfactory"
The speaker ske'ched the campaigns of his divi-
sion during the war; touched upOn the reenlts OF
the war; and the valOr and chivalry of the sOnth,
and related an 4necGOte of President LiacOln, at
the time of the latter's visit TO the army of the
Potomac, opposite Fredericksburg, in 1863 In
the course of an interview with the president, g.
Averill showed him note from Gen. FitZhugh
Lee in regard to the wounded OF the latter's COM
mand
The speaker continued as follows Then he
asked:
''Were you and Cen Lee friends:'
Certainly, said always had been"
"What would happen he asked, "should you
meet on the battle fed:'
zone or both of us would he badly hurt or
killed." | said, ''ohliged to be, Mr.. President"
He leaned that picturesque and mournfnl face on
his hand, and after pause said with emotion:
son, my God what dreadful thing is var
like this, where personal friends must Stay etCh
other"
kto!d him that undoubtedly Lee thought he was
doing his duty, and | knew that was doing mine.
said Lincoln:
understand your feelings, but there are many
who would think that you ought to hate each
other"
Finally he said
General Ayerill, wish you would give me this
letter of Lees"
"Certainly, take it MIR. President
He accepted it, and have been told ~ one of his
hOyrsphHrs that he carried the note in his pocket
for long time, and would frequently show it.
Brief addresses were made by General !. ID. I'M
boden, General McNall, of New York, and Colonel
Mccarthy, OF Richmond. Both General Gordon,
of Georgia, and Jackson, of Tennessee, were eX-
peCted, but neither came.